Chandragiri: In Chittoor's Arepalle Rangampeta, a small village situated near Tirupati, locals are all set to witness the upcoming 'Pasuvula Panduga', a traditional cattle festival which is observed every year during Kanuma (i.e., the third day of the Sankranti festival).
This festival to appease gods for protecting and enhancing cattle wealth in the village will be celebrated on January 15 this year.
Before the commencement of the festival, turmeric and vermilion are applied on cow's forehead giving them a 'religious touch' and special prayers are offered.
In this age-old festival, youth-run behind the domesticated bulls to catch the prize money, a colourful slate fastened between their horns.
The participants try to snatch the slates from the horns of the animals as it runs through the serpentine path.
Pasuvula Panduga is observed for around a week in several villages across the district, especially in Kuppam, Vedurukuppam and Chittoor belts.
Locals say that this Chittoor event Pasuvula Panduga is in no way related to Tamil Nadu's Jallikattu, neither in terms of ferocity nor public participation.
The villagers decry the comparison of the event to Jallikattu of Tamil Nadu. They say that the festival is more about livestock, where bulls and cows are the centre of attraction and visitors from many places come to watch it.
"Every year the organisers of the event provides all sorts of facilities like food, water, medical camp, everything free of cost. "
But before the celebrations began this year, Secretary of Animal Rescue Organisation, Gopal Rao filed a petition against for a ban in celebrating the festival, claiming it harmful for animals and should not be observed.
To which the organisers and the locals said, "We are celebrating the festival as gratitude towards animals and not for harming them as other states do. We do not bet on animals, we just follow our tradition."
He further added, "Let the government do whatever they want to, the cattle festival will be celebrated, as usual, this year too."
